To further oneself

[Cixi Lu]

There were few things that Cixi Lu was good at. She was too thin, too lithe for proper combat. That was why she was taking her ship back to the temple.

La Bellacosa was a ship of Nubian origin that Cixi had refitted as a medical transport, thus it had little weaponry but excellent shielding. She'd been needing some work done, but that was in the past.
The journey had brought her into a battle that had only made her more acutely aware of her weaknesses.

She needed more training.

She had heard of a Jedi Master among the Silver Jedi Order whom was a master of the art of Battle Meditation.

It was the one thing Cixi herself was truly talented at, she understood the healing arts, and could manipulate her surroundings - but the intricate art of Battle Meditation was where she felt her calling.

She was talented, to be sure, but she was unrefined, uneducated, young, and inexperienced.

She needed a teacher.

La Bellacosa made its usual moaning sound as it landed in the hangar, the whole ship shuddering slightly.

With gentle steps, she walked out into the temple - hoping that her message had reached the master in question, so as that her arrival would be no surprise.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

It wasn't too often that other people reached out to her to meet and learn a new skill from. When Jairdain received the request from Cixi, she answered right away. The location of the meeting was picked by Jairdain for a purpose that would become clear as the lesson progressed.

They needed to be outside because inside of the temple didn't have what she needed to accomplish teaching this special skill. That of battle meditation.

She had done some research on Cixi and learned she wasn't a well-trained fighter. It was for different reasons than her own lack of training but gave them something to connect with.

The meeting was set so they would meet up just outside of the Temple and Jairdain would be able to lead the young woman where she planned the hold the lesson.

Turning when she sensed the approach of another person, she gave a warm smile to her and nodded.

"You are Cixi?"

[member="Cixi Lu"]

 

[Cixi Lu]

With gentle footsteps, Cixi followed the pathways outside She found herself filled with trepidation, her heart that was so often still as a pool now fluttered like a flag in the wind.

As always, she walked barefoot - no matter the environment. Her mother had said that walking across the land with naught between skin and sand allowed a deeper connection to the Living Force, and Cixi followed that practice even now.

Though the two had never met before, Cixi was drawn to Jairdain's aura immediately, stepping respectfully down towards her.

All of Jairdain's research on the girl could scarcely have prepared her - for Cixi's arms and legs were as twigs, and her body faired little better, her pale skin having the texture of paper as if it might tear at any second. The girl was recorded as having medic training, but what patient would trust a medic who seemed as if they could not care for themselves?

"Indeed, Master," she replied graciously. "I am Padawan Cixi, here to se- ah, rather, here to beg training from yourself - Master Jairdain."

With a flowing motion, she gave a full curtsey, her respect for her superior all too clear.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

The physical appearance of Cixi was missed by Jairdain. She had allowed Sage to go wander through the garden here. There were no dangers for him and they both knew that. If she needed him, then she could call on him and he would return to her side.

She wore tan pants and light pink tunic. Not at all like what a typical Jedi would wear, but instead, her clothes were of fine quality and looked more like what nobility would wear. Nothing too fancy though.

Nodding when Cixi approached her, Jairdain gave her a friendly and welcoming smile.

"Please, just call me Jairdain. What are you wanting to learn? From what I can tell about you...you're not much of a fighter, much like me."

Waiting for Cixi to reach her before starting to move again, Jairdain walked over the grass and pathways as if she knew this land very well. Before her life had gone to Hell, Jairdain had been adopted and now had a far deeper connection with the Force. There was no light or dark for her, but the Living Force alone. Leading the padawan into the more secluded and wilder parts of the Rest garden, there was still no danger for either of them.

These paths were less travelled, but still well kept. Once they reached a circular area, Jairdain stopped and sat down on the ground. Making a motion with her hands, she invited Cixi to join her.

[member="Cixi Lu"]

 

[Cixi Lu]

If Cixi could step any lighter, she would have done.

This garden of rest was overflowing with life, the Living Force almost aglow around the two as they walked deeper in. Cixi breathed in, and so too did the plants breathe in, the grass breathe in, the leaves breathe in.
For was not all life connected through the force? Was not each and every action echoed and parallelled and met?

It was beautiful.

Cixi reached out her hand and allowed a breeze to flow twixt her fingers, feeling the gentle ripples in the Force as the air weaved through them at her instruction - the gentlest of touches and yet with such profound effect.

Jairdain's voice brought her attention back to the material, and yet Cixi found herself at something at a loss for a proper response.

"Jairdain," she spoke hesitantly. "I hear you are a Master of many arts, but there is one I seek instruction in."

Slowly but certainly she sat opposite the woman - her own white and grey robes frayed at the edges and almost the furthest thing from finery. With a nervous air to her she knelt, and then sat.

"I ask that you further my understanding and ability in the art of Battle Meditation. For if I cannot be my own strength, then I would like to be the strength of others," she explained, her head bowing slightly as she spoke.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

It was through her blood bond when she was adopted that Jairdain gained her ability to touch nature around them. There was a small kinship felt by her as Cixi breathed and allowed the plants around them. She could have easily overpowered the girl, but Jairdain allowed this to happen. Without a need to exert her will on something, she allowed this to play through its course.

After they sat down, she listened to what Cixi had to say and nodded slightly.

"I would like to hear in your own words why you feel this powerful skill should be taught to a padawan?"

This was something Jairdain had her own reason for knowing and she would not make any record of it in the paperwork on Cixi.

[member="Cixi Lu"]

 

[Cixi Lu]

Cixi considered Jairdain's words deeply. Just because she had the talent, did that truly mean that she deserved to learn this sacred art?

Perhaps she did not deserve to, but there was an ever gentle push inside her, nudging her subtly in this direction.

Like a conductor, she could play no music herself, but she understood it deeply and could guide others, give them direction and order and peace. This was the art of Battle Meditation, a person acting as a conductor of war - ensuring her peers breathed as one, fought as steadily as a beating heart.

There was knowledge in her heart already, surely it was the correct thing to build upon that base?

"To leave talent untapped is as to keep caged a bird. Perhaps it might be safer there, but it will never know the life it was supposed to," Cixi spoke calmly, allowing her crisp tones to flow out - bringing the meaning through in her words.

To this effect, she met her Master's eyes as she spoke.

This was a careful balance to meet, to state her innate skill without appearing to be overly proud of it. To state the ability she had, and to still be humble while yet needing to make another aware of her need to further it.

In a way, this was the art of Dun Moch - to allow her words to resonate in the force, to affect the people around her in a more profound way.

"Would it serve you better if I offered myself in return? I may be useful to your purposes."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

Because of her blindness in the physical sense, Jairdain had developed her own way to view the world. It was through the emotions of others and she could clearly see the belief Cixi had in her words. If she had answered right away and without much thought, she would have met with a solid wall of resistance. As it was she was still a little reluctant to teach this particular skill to somebody she just met and knew almost nothing about.

When she felt the effect of Dun Moch, a single eyebrow lifted and she waved a hand at Cixi.

"I would suggest being careful with any sort of mental manipulation with me. This isn't a threat at all, but a warning. All my life people have attempted to gain entry into my mind when my barriers get broken, then a defence I built up lashes out and blinds the person for a few minutes."

She did not have an ego, but Jairdain did know where her skills rested. Through her life, she had focused almost solely on mental abilities.

"What do you intend to do with this skill? I am unsure what you might offer me, but as a Jedi that is not something that should be considered."

Even though Jairdain belonged to the Silvers, she never thought she could call herself Jedi again.

[member="Cixi Lu"]

 

[Cixi Lu]

Cixi found herself caught off guard - for she had not considered her actions to be manipulation, but to use the Force to affect emotion, even for the most benign of matters...

A crimson most unlike her caught her cheeks aflame, and she found it strong enough that she had to look away for a moment.

"That had not been my intention, master," she breathed after all too long of a pause.

Intentions mattered little to the material, but within the Force, it meant everything - hence why Jairdain asked after her reasons in thorough terms for learning this skill.

"My intentions are to guide, not manipulate. I want to help people, I want to make them the very best that they can be, to help them surpass their limits and realise they have more in them. The art I seek is one of guidance, but as we have just proven, I must learn where the line between guidance and manipulation exists. Moreover, I would like to be of use myself - for my flesh is weak; weaker than most, and I must pour all into my studies of the Force if I am to offer help," Cixi explained - pouring her heart into her voice this time. No more Force tricks, no more beating round the bush - just the pure and honest truth.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

Sitting on the ground listening to what the girl was saying, it brought a bit of thought to Jairdain. Reaching up to scratch at her nose for a moment, it was an outward sign of her thinking. Nodding, she ended it with a slight tilt to her head.

What Cixi said, she felt was true from her point of view. After Jairdain pointed out what she had been doing, that it brought a new perspective to her.

"Battle Meditation works two ways though. One it does enhance and influence your allies. The other thing it does though it brings the morale down of your enemies. So you will be manipulating them. Is that something you feel you are ready to face? The knowledge you are potentially bringing others to death at the hands of the allies you support?"

This was something not everybody could face. Jairdain knew a great many skills and two other cames to mind that this girl might be interested in if she couldn't stand the thought of death.

"Do you know Force Meld or Valor at all? If you only wish to aid your allies, those two skills would be better for you than Battle Meditation."

[member="Cixi Lu"]

 

[Cixi Lu]

"You are an ally, a person I desire to know as a friend or an acquaintance - that is why I chide my own actions. When it concerns the art of war, of battle, one must be prepared to do what is necessary to win. If I am to be an asset, then I must accept all parts of my talent - all of it - and use it to aid my allies. As for death - there is no death, only the Force. When matters come to combat, when we have no other option but to fight - should I not do everything to help people win?" She spoke in reply, utter certainty in her voice.

"As a Jedi, it is within me to oppose the forces of darkness where'ere they arise. I wish to have the skill to help others oppose it, to make the light shine brighter, and to cut through the darkness. Does this not describe Battle Meditation? To make those in the Light shine brighter, to cut through the Dark's heart and allow the light to shine through?"

Cixi bowed her head deeply to Jairdain, prostrating herself before the master.

"Please, Jairdain, train me."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

"You sound like a group of people I know..."

Not finishing the statement, Jairdain allowed her voice to trail off. In time, maybe she would introduce Cixi to those people after the girl got some training under her belt. As it was both of them were weak fighters, but strong in mental abilities. Something she had tried to work on but had failed at each attempt. She had come to the conclusion she just wasn't meant to be a physical fighter.

Steepling her fingers in front of her as they talked before beginning the first lesson she now intended to teach Cixi, she listened to what was said and nodded slightly. Carefully considering her words before she spoke them, it was clear to Jairdain she would have to give some further advice.

"What happens when the day comes that you aren't fighting sith? Also to go to any lengths to achieve victory over your enemy...well that pushes the boundaries between light and dark. Sometimes it wiser to lose than win, if it saves lives in the end."

When she prostrated herself on the ground, she shook her head and motioned for the girl to rise.

"You really don't need to do that. I was once in your position in life. Young, naive and not always open to advice that is given."

The training would come, but not until Jairdain was certain Cixi wasn't going to abuse it or use it in a poor manner.

[member="Cixi Lu"]

 

[Cixi Lu]

Cixi breathed in, trying to take in everything was telling her in turn. Cixi's philosophy on battle had come from her Grandfather, a Mandalorian Field-Medic - that the only desirable outcome in battle was victory or negotiation. To lose was to die, and to fail everything you were fighting for. Swift overwhelming victory was the purpose of fighting, mercy was to be extended to the unwilling, and companionship offered to the strong.

She was, after all, a medic first - and the first rule of a medic was simple; 'Do No Harm.' She, of course, refused to be defenseless, but there had to be a reason to fight.

"If they are not Sith, then they can be reasoned with. In such a scenario, I would be more ready to put my medical experience to use, than fight at all," Cixi replied, adamant in her stance.

Cixi rose her head and waited, her face empty of emotion while Jairdain spoke. It wasn't confirmation, but neither was it denial - just an invitation to stand with her.

So Cixi did rise, wondering what Jairdain had in mind for her.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

"Even some sith can be reasoned with. Never forget that, Padawan Cixi. Not all are lost cases. Look at me. While I started off as a Jedi and one of a very pure heart...I was captured by a sith and over a long period of time...fell to the dark. However, I made a return and as a broken sith, the healing arms of the Silver's brought me back. It is commendable that you desire to heal over fighting, but everybody must fight in time."

Her hand had been pushed and even Jairdain had needed to fight. She had lost that one and been knocked out. Luckily some troops had come by in time to save her from death, but her skills in fighting had hardly improved since.

"I will teach you three things and it might take more than just today. Are you willing to put forth the effort to learn them?"

A simple question, but yet a test. She needed to know if Cixi was willing to take the time to learn these skills. Each one would enhance the other and help others. Battle Meditation would be the pinnacle of the lessons and before they reached that point, she would know if the girl would be able to do it.

[member="Cixi Lu"]

 

[Cixi Lu]

"I had accepted this to be the case when I came to see you," Cixi replied to her later statement, pushing the other to one side. There was to fall to the dark-side, which could be recovered from, but to become Sith? That was to accept the dark-side, revel in it. In Cixi's mind, that was a Sith, and such a Sith would have to be dealt with, utterly and truly.

"I am young, of heart, mind, and spirit. If you are willing to take the time to train me, then I am ready to take the time to train," She spoke on, standing up straight.

In any case, she didn't seek strength so that she could crush people, or even for battle. The pursuit of self-improvement should be its own reason, the desire to become the very best one could be.

She may never be the strongest, even in her field, but she could be the very best Cixi. That was what she desired.

@Cixi Lu